Railway-spike.



G. D. RUSSELL.

RAILWAY SPIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1914.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

) abhor/"M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES DANIEL RUSSELL, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

RAILWAY-SPIKE.

1 t) (ZZZ 107mm it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHAnLns D. RUSSELL, citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of .\linnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Spikes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway spikes, and has for its object to provide a spike so constructed as to effectually engage the tie when seated therein to prevent the spike from working loose.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spike so constructed that when seated in the tie, transverse movement, as well as vertical movementof the spike, will be prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spike which will be simple in construction and efficient in operation and which may be readily manufactured.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims; and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a detail perspective view showing my improved spike partially seated in operative position, the railway tie and rail being conventionally shown; Fig. 2 is a side view of the spike showing one concaved face with the sinuous groove formed medially thereof; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 1 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, showing the undercut shoulders formed in the side faces of the spike.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings in which I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates the shank portion of the spike at one extremity of which is formed an enlarged head 11 having a laterally extending flange 12 preferably formed in alinement with one of the side faces of the shank, the flange 12 being adapted to engage the base flange of a railway rail. The opposite extremity of the shank 10 is cut-away adjacent the end thereof to form a beveled driving point 13, the

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 12, 1914.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

Serial No. 811,643.

reduced cutting edge 14 of which is disposed to extend transversely of the shank 10 and in longitudinal relation to the head 11.

The shank 10 is substantially rectangular in section, the sides thereof being longitudinally channeled throughout their length to present transversely concaved faces 15, the side edges 16 of each concavity being located inwardly of the longitudinal edges 17 of each face and the corners of the shank between the adjacent faces being of greater width between points coincident with the said side edges 16 of the concavities than between points immediately inwardly of the firstmentioned points. The shank thus presents at each of its several corners a substantially wedge-shaped longitudinally extending rib 18 having oppositely disposed shoulders 19 with a reduced shank portion 20.

In the practical use of my improved spike the wood of the tie will expand against the shank portion .10 thereof and into the channels formed in each of its side faces. As will be obvious, the wedge-shaped ribs 18 will engage by their'shoulders 19 against the portion of the tie so expanded into the concave faces 15, thereby preventing transverse movement of the spike within the tie.

Formed in the side faces of the shank 1O medially of each concave face 15, is a sinuous groove 21, the portions 22 of each groove between the bends thereof being approximately parallel and extending transversely of the side faces of the shank. These grooves 21 are coextensive with the length of the shank, the upper extremities thereof terminating at the point where the head 11 merges into each of the concave side faces of the spike, the opposite extremities of each groove opening upon the beveled faces 13 of the driving point. The transversely extending and substantially parallel portions 22 of each of the grooves form a series of shoulders adapted to engage the fibers of the tie embedded therein, the wood expanding into the concaved faces 15 and into the grooves 21. The portions 23 of each of the grooves 21 connecting the transversely extending portions 22 thereof in effect provide longitudinally of the shank a series of staggered and opposed arcuate depressions 23 which, being formed on opposite sides of the medial line of each of the concaved faces 15, are disposed at an angle longitudinally to the apex of each of said faces, the inner and outer walls of each groove at this point being inclined inwardly toward the center of each face, thereby providing in the outer wall of each depression, an undercut shoulder 24: intermediate the portions 22. It is to be noted that these undercut shoulders 24, being disposed upon opposite faces of the spike and adjacent the axis thereof, serve to steady the spike centrally, the fibers of the tie being engaged by each of the shoulders 2st.

In the common form of rectangular spike now in general use, the flat side faces there of present to the grain of the tie a relatively smooth surface, making it impossible for the fiber of the wood to engage the shank of the spike, the resiliency of the tie being relied upon solely to hold the spike in position. ltlxperience has shown that as the tie deteriorates, the resiliency of the wood is correspondingly impaired with the result that the ordinary form of spike, due to the constant pounding upon the rail secured thereby, will eventually work loose, the tendency of the spike being first to move laterally within the tie since the greatest strain is in this direction.

In forming my improved spike with con caved faces, such faces extending the entire length of the spike and practically throughout the entire width of the side walls of the spike, a relatively larger bearing surface is provided against which the fibers of the tie may engage. To exert a gripping action upon the tie, I further form each face of the spike in such a way that the fibers of the tie expanding thereagainst may be engaged both to hold the spike against vertical as well transverse movement.

its will be apparent, inv the practical use of my improved spike, the fibers of the tie, adjacent the front and rear faces, will be severed as the spike is driven into the tie, while the wood adjacent the opposite side faces of the spike will. remain intact. In this way, the severed ends of the fibers will effectually engage the front and rear faces of the spike to hold it against lateral movement, the wood expanding into the concaved faces thereof, while the fibers of the tie not severed and bearing against the opposite side faces of the spike will hold the tie against transverse movement. It will therefore be seen that I provide a very simple structure for accomplishing the purpose of my invention and further provide a spiket was which is efficient in construction and which nia'v also be readily manufactured.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A spike including a shank formed With a head having a laterally extending projection disposed in alinement with one of the side faces of the shank and having a driving point, the reduced cutting edge of which extends transversely of the shank and in longitudinal relation to the head, the side faces of the shank being channeled throughout their length, the side edges of each channel being inwardly spaced from the side edges of each face, each side face having a sinuous groove formed therein medially of the channel.

A spike including a shank formed with a head and a driving point, the side faces of the shank being concaved and having a sinuous groove medially formed therein, the transverse portions of each groove between the bends thereof being approximately parallel.

3. A spike including a substantially rectangular shank formed with a head and a driving point, the side faces of the shank being channeled throughout the greater portion of their transverse area defining wedgesliaped longitudinally extending ribs at the corners of the shank, said ribs having oppositely (llSj'JUSOCl shoulders and being formed with a reduced shank portion, the shank portion of the spike having sinuous grooves formed therein medially of the side faces thereof.

st. A spike including a shank formed with a head and a driving point and having channels formed in its side faces, the shank also being provided with sinuous grooves formed medially of each of the said channels, the transverse portions of each of said grooves lying between the bends thereof being approximately parallel, the bends defining opposed longitudinally spaced staggered depressions upon opposite sides of the medial line of each of said side faces, the walls of said depressions being inclined, and the outer wall of each depression providing an undercut shoulder.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES DANIEL RUSSELL.

Witnesses LENA SCHWARTZ, S. A. BARTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

